Charles j



(No Model.) 2 'sheetssheet 1'.

O. J. DION.

STARGHING MACHINE.

No. 489,556. Patented Jan. 10, 1893.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

C. J. DION. STARGHING MACHINE.

No. 489,556. Patented Jan. 10, 1893.

. CZaZeJL/jf, perm co., PuofcLLlTu I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CHARLES J. DION, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHESTERL. CALDVELL, CLIFFORD B. DEACON, AND ERNEST L. MAISON,

OF SAME PLACE.

STARCHING-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 489,556, dated January10, 1893.

Application led September 18, 1891. Serial No. 406.060. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern/.-

Beit known that I, CHARLES J. DION, of St. Paul, Ramsey county,Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Starching- Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shirt starching machines, itsobject being to provide a machine by. means of which the fabric of thegarment may be quickly and thoroughly saturated with theA starch, butwithout injury to it from blows or strains.

To this end my invention consists in providing an open front rectangularbox of convenient size to receive the shirt bosom, so

connected by suitable pipes with a starch reservoir, that the requisiteamount of starch can be delivered into it. A piston, provided withindentationsor depressions upon its face, is fitted closely to the box,and is driven up and down therein into contact with the garment, bymeans of suitable machinery connected to its rod, the piston havingaspring or other elastic connection to the rod, so as to adapt itself toinequalities of surface or varying thicknesses of material. Aslidinggate is arranged to close the opening` of the box, and a pair of rollsis journaled adjacent to the opening, for stripping the starch from thegarment as it is removed from the box, delivering the starch back intothe box.

My invention further consists in the construction and combinationhereinafter described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification Figure lis a side elevation of my improved machine, the end of the starching boxbeing broken away to show the plunger therein; Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same showing the interior of the starching box, thesliding door or gate being broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional, detail,plan View of the same, the plunger andits rod being removed; Fig. 4 is across section of the plunger Vshowing the connection between the headand the piston; Fig. 5 is a partial detail plan view of the under sideof the piston, showing the series of cup shaped depressions; Fig. 6 is apartial top plan View of the plunger head; Fig. 7 is a detail frontelevation, and partial section of the starching box, showing the rubberrolls for stripping the starch from the garment; Fig. S is a partialcross section of the same, and Fig. 9 is a detail of the pipeconnections between the starch reservoir and the starching box. p

In some of the common methods of starching by machinery, great injury isdone to the garment by the severe blows which are given it to force thestarch through the fabric, and by which it is torn and the buttonsbroken; and where the garment is carried through series of cogs oriiuted rolls which force the starch into the fabric, there is inevitablyan injurious strain and wear upon it. Plaits, rutlles and other parts ofthe garment,are also disarranged, and have to be properly adjusted byhand, after the starching operation is completed. By the use of myimproved machine these objections are all obviated. The action of thepiston is to first gently force the starch on top downward through thegarment by elastic pressure, and then to draw that beneath upwardthrough the fabi ic, Without displacing the garment or any parts of it,or in any way straining or injuring it. The elastic connection betweenthe piston and its rod, cushions the blow made by the downward stroke,and also allows the piston to yield to the atmospheric pressure, as itisfirst lifted, so. as to check the initial movement, and prolong theaction of suction by which the starch is drawn through the fabric. Thedepressions in the surface of the piston serve also to receive and holdthe starch onlthe downward movement of the piston, whichotli erwisewould be forced outward aroundthe outer edge of the piston, the starchdropping out of the depressions back on to the garment as the pistonrises. By this means a sufficient quantity of starch is kept on top ofthe garment to thoroughly saturate it, and the portions of the garmentunderneath the depressions not being as firmly compressed as the otherportions, permit the starch to flow upward through it more freely.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the; machine which ispreferably of iron. ranged centrally within the frame upon; a-

board 2, or other suitable support, is the starch `reservoir 3, fortheholding of a quantity of This reservoir isr the starch ready for use.provided preferably with a steam pipe 4,0011- necting with asuitablesourceof steam snpof the4 machine, and isconnected with the resthekbranches k10 running to each endof the box, the flow of thestarehbeingcontrolled l ver 39pivoted to the support 40k which is se@ The upper armof thel by the` valve 11. The starching box is provided with solid endand rear walls, but is Aopenl in front down ,tor nearly` the bottom ofithe box, as shown best in detail Fig. 7 the front side-12 of the boxextending above the bottom a sniiicient distance to retain the smallquantity of starch which is at any one time containedtl-ierein. iJournaled at the frontof the box near the bottom,is the rubber roll 13,

which is adapted to be driven in the manner hereinafter described.Arranged; in sliding bearings directly above the l roll 13 is a simid flar roll 14, which is closed-down against 'the roll 13 when brought intouse, as `hereinaftery described. f

f i kThe starching box is provided with a plunger. B having a plungerrod15,` which slides -f in the guide 1G, and is connectedto the Apitman 17,by means of which it is driven from the disk crank 32. The plunger ismade up ofthe head 13 rigidly connected to the rod 15, and the piston19,connected with the head preferably by means of the central softrubber block 22, and the spiral springs 23 arranged one at each cornerofthe pist-on. The piston is fitted closely to the box S, and providedwith rounded edges 2O to prevent binding in the box, and is alsoprovided with series of cup shaped indentations or depressions 21 in itsface. By means of this construction, the piston will readily adaptitself to any inequalities or varying thicknesses of the garmentunderneath, and with the upward movement of the plunger, the springsexpand slightly, yielding to the atmospheric pressure, as a partialvacuum is formed underneath, thus causing a slightly slower initialmovement of the piston than of the head, and more efficiently drawingthe starch upward into the fabric.

The main driving shaft 24, journaled upon the frame of the machine, isprovided with the pulley 25, which takes power from any suitable sourceby means of a belt 26. It is also provided With the pulley 27, fortransmitting power by means of a belt 28 to the pulley 29 jourualedloosely upon the shaft 30, which is journaled at the top of the machine,a collar 31 holding the pulley 29 from sliding upon the shaft. The shaft30 is provided I in a'groove Ain the clutch. the lever is connected bymeans of the link 42 with the disk crank 32 having the crank pin towhich the pitman 17 isconuected. The

disk. is over-balanced opposite ythe crank pin by. means of the enlargedportion 34, which exceedsthe weight of the crank pin and itsconnections, so that when the clutch is thrown out of gear the disk willturn and lift the plungenholdingit inthe position shown` in Fig. 1.

Sliding upon the shaft 30 is the clutch 35 held from turning by means ofthe feather 36, and provided with the Ateeth A37, adapted to engage thesimilar teeth 38 onthe pulley 29.

In order to throw the `clutch into engagement with the pulley 'so as todrive'the shaft 30 from the shaft 24, I provide th-ebell crank lecuredto the frame. leveriis connected tothe eollar41,`which lies `The otherarm` of to the rod 43, they lower end of the rodbeing pivoted to thetreadle lever44. This treadle lever is normallyheld in. itsraisediposition,

so as to keep theclutch-y :out of. engagement with 'the pulley 29, bymeans of. the spiral chine. the clutch is thrown forward into engagementi with the pulley, andthe plunger operated.

In order to close the frontofthe starching i box before the plungercommences to operate, :I: providethe sliding gate 46 running in thegrooves 47 in the ends of the'box and insidethe rolls 13 and 14. Thisgate is connected to the long arms of the levers 48, which are pivotedto the frame of the machine, the short arms of the levers beingsimilarly connected to the long arms of the levers 49, the short arms ofwhich are curved around back ofthe reservoir and connected to the rod43. Thus by depressing the treadle lever 44, the levers 48 and 49 serveto .carry the gate downward and close the box before the clutch comesinto engagement with the pulley 29. In order to secure the treadle lever44 in its depressed position, I provide a treadle-l1ook or catch 50,under which the lever may be hooked and held. lVhen released therefromthe spring 45 instantly lifts the lever and throws the n1achine out ofgear, raising the gate of the starching box to give access to itsinterior, the overbalanced disk crank turning automatically to lift orhold the plunger in its raised position, and away from the garment inthe starching box.

The roll 13 above described turns in fixed bearings near the bottom ofthe box just inside the edge 12, its shaft 53 being provided with aloose bevel gear 51, which meshes with the bevel gear 52 upon theconstantly running shaft 24. The shaft 53 is also provided with thesliding clutch 54, having teeth adapted to engage similar teeth on thebevel gear 51, and thus to impart motion to the roll. The clutch isthrown into or out of engage- ICO IIO

Athe member 5S. The guide 55 is connected at its upper end to the shaft59 of the roll 14, and the upper end of the member 58 is similarlyconnected to the other end of the shaft. The

bar 57 is connected to a rod 60, the lower end.

of which is connected to the treadle lever 61, provided with a spring 62tending to hold it in a raised position, and having a catch 63 forsecuring it in said depressed position. By

vdepressing the lever 61, the roll 14 is drawn the starching box, thegarment itself being carried outward on to the shelf 64.

Operation: The pulley 25 being connected to the source of power so thatits shaft and the pulley 29 are driven, the valve 1l in the pipe 9 isopened to admit a suflicient quantity of starch from the reservoir tothe starching b'ox to cover the bottom of the box. The garment is thenintroduced through the front of the box and placed upon the layer ofstarch therein, when the valve 11 is again opened to admit a supply ofstarch to the box on' top of the garment. The treadle 44 is thendepressed closing the gate 46 in the front of thev box, and throwing theclutch 35 into engagement with the pulley 29, thus causing the plunger Bto be operated. The downward movement of the plunger forces the starchon top of the garment into the fabric and into the depressions in thepiston, and presses the garment into the starch at the bottom of thebox, the springs and rubber cushion yielding to adapt the piston toinequalities of surface or varying thicknesses of material, and deadening the force of the blow. With the return or-upward movement of theplunger, a partial vacuum is formed underneath, thereby drawing thestarch underneath the garment upward through the fabric, the springsyielding to the atmospheric pressure as the partial vacuum is formed, soas` to slightly retard the upward motion of the piston and the starchheld in the depressions flows back on to the garment. This operation iscontinued until the starch above and below the garment has beenthoroughly worked into it by the alternate compression and suction. Thetreadle 44 when released, is lifted by the spring. 45, throwing theclutch out of gear with the pulley 29, and lifting the gate 46. Thetreadle 6l on being depressed closes the roll 14 against the garment,which lies upon the .roll 13, at the same time throwing the clutch 54into engagement with the gear 51. The roll 13 is thus turned, and withit the roll 14, carrying the garment outward from the box, and pressingthe surplus starch out of the fabric, the rolls being so placed that thestarch falls back into the box. Vhen the treadle 61 is released, it islifted by its spring, throwing the shaft of the roll 13 out of gear andcarrying the roll 14 upward, leaving the front of the box open toreceive another garment, when the operation may be repeated. By means ofthe pipe 4 steam may be admitted to the starch reservoir whenevernecessary, and by means of the pipe 6 the surplus water in the reservoirmay be carried oft.

I claim- 1. In a starching machine, the combination of the open-frontstarching box, the gate for closing said opening, and the piston fittedto and working in said box.

2. In a starching machine, the combination with the starching box havinga side opening by means of which aportion of a garment can be laid inthe box, and the rest of the garment held outside thereof, the indentedpiston working in said box, and means for closing said opening upon saidgarment, substantially as described.

3. In a starching machine, the combination of the rectangular starchingbox, the gate in one of its sides adapted to be opened to receive aportion of a garment and to be closed down upon the garment to protectthe outer portion from the starch, the piston working in said box, acontinuously running source of power, and means for throwing said pistoninto gear with said source of power, and simultaneously closing saidgate, substantially as described.

4. In a starching machine, the combination with the rectangularstarching box, of the piston fitted to and working therein,a lateralopening to admit a portion of the garment into said box, and means forclosing said opening upon the interposed garment, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a starching maohine,the combination with the starching box havingan opening to receive the garment, of the roll journaled in fixedbearings on one side of the said opening, the continuously runningsource of power, the clutch upon the shaft of said roll adapted to bethrown into gear with said source of power, the roll arranged on theopposite side of said opening journaled in bearings movable to and fromsaid other roll, and means engaging said clutch for shifting saidmovable roll, whereby said rolls are thrown into gear with said Ysourceof power when closed together, and thrown out of gear therewith whenseparated, substantially as described.

6. In a starching machine, the combination with the starching box havingan opening to receive the garment, the gate for closing said opening,the piston working in said box, its crank shaft, the continuouslyrunning source of power, the mechanism for simultaneously throwing thecrank shaft into gear with said source of power and closing said gate,and for simultaneously raising said gate when` said crank shaft isthrown out of gear with said source of power, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a starching machine, the combination with the starching box, ofthe piston working therein, the opening in said box to receive a portionof the garment, the sliding gate adapted to close said opening and tobear upon the interposed garment, the roll journaled in xed bearings atthe bottom of said opening, the roll journaled in vertically slidingbearings above said first roll, the continuously running source ofpower, and means for simultaneously closing said rolls together uponsaid garment, and throwing the same into gear with said source of power,whereby the garment is automatically withdrawn from the starching box`and the surplus starch stripped therefrom into said. box, substantiallyas described.

8. The combination of the starching box having a lateral opening toreceive a portion of the garment, the indented piston working in saidbox, a gate for closing said opening upon said garment, the rolljournaled in fixed bearings at the bottom of said opening, the rollarranged normally at the top of said openingin bearings slidable to andfrom said other roll,the continuouslyrunning source of power, and meansfor simultaneously closing said rolls together upon the garment, andthrowing them into gear with said source of power, and for throwing themout of gear with said source of powerwhen separated, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a starching machine, the combination with the starching box, andthe piston fitted to and working therein, of means for inserting aportion of a garment in said box, and for protecting the rest of thegarment from the starch, and means for withdrawing said garment fromsaid box and simultaneously stripping the starch therefrom into the box,substantially as described.

10. In astarching machine, the combination of the starchin g box, thepiston working therein, an opening in said box through which a portionof the garment may be inserted, a gate for closing said opening adaptedto bear upon said garment when in position and to protect the outerportion from the starch, the stripping rolls arranged adjacent to saidopening, one on each side of said garment when in po sition, thecontinuously running source of power, means for closing said rollstogether upon said garment, and simultaneously throwing the same intogear with said source of power, and means for simultaneously separatingsaid rolls and throwing them out of gear with said source of power,whereby the garment after being starched is withdrawn from said box andthe surplus starch stripped from it into said box, and the opening thenleft free for the insertion of another garment, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a starching machine, the combination with the starching box andthe indented piston working therein, of the roll journaled in fixedbearings on one side of the opening to said box, the roll journaled inbearings movable to and from said other roll, on the opposite side ofsaid opening, the gate for closing said opening, the continuouslyrunning source of power, means for simultaneously connecting said pistonwith said source 0f power and closing said gate, and for opening saidgate when said piston is disconnected from said source ot power.

12. The combination of the starching box having 4vertical sides, thepiston fitted to and working therein and provided with indentations inits face, the piston rod, the over-balanced crank for operating saidrod, and the springs between said rod and piston, substantially asdescribed.

13. The combination of the starching box having vertical sides, thepiston having depressions in its face fitted thereto, the plunger head,the elastic connection between said head and piston, the over-balancedcrank connected with said plunger head, the continuous power, and meansfor throwing said crank shaft into and out of gear therewith,substantially as described.

14. In a'starching machine, the combination of the rectangular,open-front starching box, the sliding gate for closing said front, thepiston fitted to and working vertically in said box and provided withindentations in its face, and an elastic connection between said pistonand its rod, substantially as described.

l5. In a starching machine, the combination of the rectangular,open-front box adapted to receive the garment, the piston working in thebox, means for conveying starch into said box and upon said garment, avertically sliding gate for closing the front of said box, the rolljournaled in lixed bearings at the bottom of said opening, the rolljournaled in vertically movable bearings above said opening, and meansfor `connecting said piston and rolls to a source of power to operatethe same, substantially as described.

16. The combination of the open front box, the sliding gate for closingthe same, the plunger working in said box, the overbalanced crank foroperating said plunger, means for simultaneously closing said gate andthrowing said crank into gear with a continuously running source ofpower, and means for automatically and simultaneously opening said gateand throwing said crank out of gear, substantially as described.

17. In a starching machine, the combination of the rectangular,open-front starchin g box, the indented piston working therein, thevertically sliding gate for closing the front of said box, the rolljournaled in ylixed bearings at the bottom of the opening, the rolljournaled IOO los

IIO

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day ofSeptember, 1891.

' CHARLES J. DION. In presence of T. D. MERWIN, A.*MAE WELCH.

